SnowLoadCheck

Williamsburg city, VA Roof Snow Load - 15 psf

How much snow is too much for a roof in Williamsburg city, VA?

Moderate
15 psf

15 psf: that's what ASCE 7-22 requires a typical heated home's roof in Williamsburg city to carry. 10.5 psf is what the ground-load formula alone gives; Williamsburg city's 15 psf low-slope minimum (§7.3.4) beats it, so that figure is the one that governs on flat and low-pitch roofs.

Picture it, not just weigh it: 33 in. if it's fresh powder, 12 in. once it settles, or a mere 3 in. if it's ice. A meaningful design load. Most homes built to modern code handle it, but additions, carports, and flat-roofed sections are worth a second look.

Got real snow on a Williamsburg city roof right now?

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Williamsburg city at a glance

How Williamsburg city compares

15 psf ranks #1,498 of 2,758 US counties with a mapped snow load (top 54%) - and #93 of 110 in Virginia. Virginia counties average 18.3 psf; Williamsburg city runs 3.3 psf lower than that.

Population 16,030 (FIPS 51830), roughly 37.2695°N 76.7082°W. The 15 psf ground snow load ASCE 7-22 maps here becomes 15 psf once the code's own design factors are applied.

Typical snowfall in Williamsburg city, VA

NOAA's 30-year normal for Williamsburg city: 8.5 in. of snow a year, from the N, VA US station. (fresh vs. packed vs. ice explains why.)

What this Williamsburg city figure assumes

This is a county-level reference figure for a typical heated home built to Risk Category II (ordinary residential), on a partially exposed lot - the assumptions ASCE 7-22 itself treats as the default case. A steeper roof, a fully exposed hilltop lot, an unheated structure, or a higher risk category all change the actual number.

Williamsburg city's permit office wants an address-specific figure, not this county average - the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool is free, takes under a minute, and outputs a PDF most reviewers accept. See the methodology guide.